Ozarks, Missouri, USA
The Edge House by Dake Wells Architecture guides visitors through a concealed entryway, gradually unveiling expansive panoramic views through a transparent rear façade creating a deliberate sequence of arrival, enhancing the experience of the surrounding landscape
Despite being a popular recreation spot, the area maintains a rural and wild ambiance due to stringent construction regulations imposed along the shoreline for flood control purposes.
However, this site stands out due to its elevated position above established flood elevations, offering stunning panoramic views of the water.
For its design excellence, the Edge House has been awarded a 2024 American Architecture Awards by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
Approaching the retreat involves navigating through dense, wooded county roads and a winding gravel trail, creating a journey that gradually unfolds the breathtaking scenery.
The layout of the structures is carefully orchestrated to frame and accentuate these views, leading visitors through an orchestrated sequence that culminates in a dramatic reveal of the lake from within the main home.
The design seamlessly integrates pathways that connect the home to the lake shore, utilizing internal and external stairways, outdoor walks, and patios to enhance the connection with nature.
Architecturally inspired by the regional Ozark bluffs and rocky landscapes, the home appears as a lightly supported mass perched like a natural boulder on the hillside.
This design ethos mimics the karst environment, where trees cling to eroded rocky outcroppings, blending the retreat harmoniously into its surroundings.
The use of natural materials such as slate shingles, exposed concrete, wood cladding, and raw steel further grounds the structures within the landscape, ensuring they complement rather than dominate the natural setting.
The organization of spaces within the retreat is dictated by factors like terrain grades, optimal views, solar orientation, and seamless access to the outdoors.
Functionality plays a key role as well, accommodating the retreat’s roles as a private residence, recreational space, and venue for gatherings.
Transparency and openness are emphasized throughout, fostering connections between the interior and exterior environments, as well as between different living spaces and structures.
Upon entering the retreat, a semitransparent steel-framed staircase hangs from above, allowing daylight to penetrate deep into the home while visually connecting various levels.
The main living areas, including the kitchen, living room, and dining area, are centrally located on the entry level, offering expansive views of the lake.
More private spaces, such as the primary bedroom suite and guest bedrooms, are strategically positioned on higher and lower levels, ensuring privacy without sacrificing access to the natural surroundings.
Large expanses of glazing and sliding glass doors enhance each space’s connection to the lake views and outdoor areas, promoting a sense of tranquillity and immersion in nature throughout the retreat.
Project: Edge House
Architects: Dake Wells Architecture
Lead Architects: Andrew Wells and Kirk Dillon
General Contractor: Private
Client: Private
Photographers: Gayle Babcock / Architectural Imageworks, LLC.
